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How to tell what face shape you have in five minutes

Knowing how to tell what face shape you have takes four measurements and a comparison, not a guess from a mirror. You need a ruler or a soft tape, a straight-on photo or a mirror, and your hair pulled off your face. This guide walks through the measuring steps, a chart of the six common shapes, and what to do when your result sits between two of them. It is a manual method; if you would rather have software do the comparison, the last section points to the detector.

What you need before you measure

Pull your hair back and remove anything that covers the outline, including a hat or headband. Sit upright with the chin level and look straight ahead. If you use a photo, take it from arm's length or farther with the rear camera, because a close lens widens the middle of the face and shrinks the jaw. The photo guide shows a setup you can repeat.

Measure in millimeters or any single unit. Only the proportions matter, so you do not need to convert anything.

How to tell what face shape you have: the four measurements

  1. Face length. From the center of the hairline to the bottom of the chin.
  2. Forehead width. Across the forehead at its widest point, usually between the temples above the brows.
  3. Cheekbone width. Across the cheekbones from the outer edge of one to the other, below the outer corner of the eyes.
  4. Jaw width. From the point under each ear where the jaw angles up to the chin, taken straight across.

If you work from a photo, draw the same four lines on a screenshot, or measure with a ruler held against the screen. Write the four numbers down. The next step is a comparison, so a rough number is fine.

Match your numbers: how to tell what face shape you have

Start with the cheekbone width, because every other number is read against it.

  • If the length is clearly the largest number and the forehead, cheekbones and jaw are close to each other, the shape is oblong.
  • If the length is only slightly greater than the cheekbone width and nothing sharp stands out, the shape is oval; the oval face guide goes deeper on that outline.
  • If the length and cheekbone width are almost equal and the jaw curves softly, the shape is round.
  • If length and width are close but the jaw is nearly as wide as the forehead, with a flat jaw line and angular corners, the shape is square.
  • If the forehead is the widest number and the jaw narrows to a smaller chin, the shape is heart.
  • If the cheekbones are widest, and both the forehead and the jaw are clearly narrower, the shape is diamond.

Differences of a few percent are within the error of a tape on a moving face, so do not read much into them. Look at the biggest gap, not the smallest.

When your face sits between two shapes

Most people do. A face with a forehead slightly wider than the jaw and a rounded chin might score as heart and oval at once. Pick the shape that your largest gap points to, then keep the second in mind as a modifier. For hairstyles, the shape matters less than whether you want to add width, add length or soften an edge, and the haircut depending on face shape guide organizes advice by that goal.

Beards, bangs and weight changes alter the visible outline without changing the bones, so re-measure if one of them changes. A guide built on a single photo can mislead, which is why it helps to measure on two or three.

Common mistakes in how to tell what face shape you have

Five slips cause most wrong answers:

  • Measuring from the visible hair rather than the hairline, which adds length.
  • Taking the forehead width at the hairline instead of the widest point.
  • Measuring a jaw that is tilted down, so the jaw reads narrower.
  • Judging by a wide-angle selfie, which exaggerates the nose and cheekbone region.
  • Treating one reading as a permanent label.

Let software do the comparison instead

If you prefer not to measure, the face shape detector runs the same comparison in your browser and gives a percentage for each of six shapes. The tool answers the question "what is my face shape", while this page explains how to tell what face shape you have by hand and why a tool can disagree with a tape. For eyewear, see glasses for face shape, and for facial hair, the beard shapes guide. A full PSL rating report also lists your face shape with styling notes.

How to tell what face shape FAQ

How can I find out my face shape at home?

Pull your hair back, measure face length, forehead, cheekbone and jaw width, and compare them with the shape descriptions above.

How do I know my face shape from a photo?

Use a straight-on photo taken from a distance. Draw the four widths and lengths on it, then compare them in the same way.

Can I tell what face shape I have with a mirror?

Yes. Trace the outline on the mirror with a washable marker while holding still, step back, and look at the shape you drew.

What if I fit two face shapes?

That is normal. Choose the shape the largest measurement gap points to and treat the other as a secondary trait.

Does my face shape change over time?

The bone structure is stable in adults, but weight, hair and facial hair change how the outline looks.

Which face shape is the best?

None. Each shape has styles that suit it, but no shape is better than another.